Author's Note

Hey guys! Okay so I was supposed to upload this on Tuesday but I've been busy during the week, so that's why it's up today. The next chapter will be late as well since I accidently deleted it, but I do have an earlier version of it so everything is fine at least.

Also, I know I'm showing Ruby with May and Reese all the time but that will definitely change soon. More of the girls will appear very soon.

After you're done reading this chapter, why don't you leave a review a let me know what you think of it. Enjoy!

(Commentary)

DMcFurry[Guest]: I'm glad you like the story so far. More is coming your way soon so I hope you continue to stay. Also, sorry but Glynda won't be in the harem. I'm going to be using her for something else.

Reaper Whisper: Yep, Neo will be in it as well. After watching Ruby fight her and Roman in Volume 3, it's kind of my guilty ship. As for Reese, there was a hint of what she was doing during the night, but you'll find out soon if you haven't found out already.

THB4: I'm still thinking of what club I should have Ruby join at the moment. The whole thing with Reese will be coming up soon, which'll show what type of person she is. You'll also get to find out more about Yang in this chapter as well.

riotsnake-kun: I would like to do that but coming up with songs for every chapter takes time so I'm not going to do it for this story. Sorry! :(

spirit117: Haha yea, I decided to have them meet similar to how they were like in the show. Neo meeting Ruby will definitely be a fun read for you so stay tuned.

Color Me Once

Chapter 3

She texted May after she got home from school, telling her that Amber allowed her to go over. Amber was actually more relieved that the girl had something to do, instead of staying home all the time. She took off her uniform to wear something more comfortable. Then, she rode her bike to May's place. The girl gave her the address to her place and directions.

The complex was different from her neighborhood. It was a lot less quiet in May's. There were people running their motors or talking or blasting music. She could see that this was May's type of place to live. She also wondered how anyone can sleep with so much noise going on.

The apartments were not what she expected when she entered the neighborhood as well. They weren't regular apartments like she's usually seen before. These apartments were more luxurious ones. It actually surprised her that May was able to live on her own in an expensive apartment.

Her parents must be rich, she thought, but then she had a feeling a lot of the girls in her school had rich families because it was a private school. Thank Amber for helping my dad with the money to get me into the school.

May lived on an upper level and Ruby didn't see an elevator anywhere, so she carried her bike up the stairs. Then, she walked to her apartment room and rang the door bell.

May instantly answered.

Swinging open the door, she greeted, "Hey Ruby!"

She had on casual clothes like the redhead; a red and white baseball shirt and black track pants. She wore the same beanie as always, but Ruby still never questioned it.

"Come in," she told her, moving away from the doorway to make room. "You'd probably want to bring your bike in as well."

Ruby complied and walked into the house. Looking around curiously, she noticed that it looked a bit too simple to be a luxurious apartment. It was just basic furniture in the place. Still, it looked really nice.

"Wow," was all she said as she gently leaned her bike on the wall.

May closed the front door.

"Nice isn't it?" She asked, approaching the brunette. "If the pool was available, I would've told you to bring a bathing suit."

"Pool?!" Ruby questioned with raised eyebrows.

She nodded before leading her into the living room, "Yea, there's a pool here. Barely anyone uses it so it's just me and some friends that us it. It's not available today because no one's cleaned it. That's one of the reasons why Reese usually comes over. It's either that or she's super bored and needs some company, but she never admits that."

The living room of the apartment looked a little less basic as Ruby got a quick look around. There was also a TV that hung in the middle of the wall. When she looked down from it, she noticed that there were a couple gaming systems sitting on a small shelf. She remembered the game the other girl was talking about at lunch before.

"What type of games do you play?" she asked, still staring at the games.

May had a look that showed that she was hoping to be asked about that. Clearing her throat as if she was about to say some big news and raising her arm out to the games, she said, "I play just about everything that is interesting these days. Sports games, shooting, first person, puzzle and strategy, fighting, horror, etcetera…"

Ruby just smiled at her but on the inside she came to a conclusion that Reese was right. May was indeed a big dork, but it wasn't a bad thing like Reese tried to portray. She liked how May was so invested on something like this. She also found it kind of cute.

The other girl was still talking and Ruby realized she wasn't listening and was just smiling at her. When May finally noticed, her eyebrows furrowed as she bit her lip and rubbed the back of her neck.

"Was I rambling?" she asked. "I'm sorry if I was. I do that a lot when I talk about video games. You can tell me if I was. I won't be mad."

Ruby blinked and quickly shook her head, then told her, "No, it's alright. You're fine."

"Oh good," she sighed, moving over to the shelf and picking two gaming controllers. "Cause Reese gets pissed off when I do it."

She laughed a little to herself and brought the controllers to her.

"Well, you don't have to worry about me because I won't get mad."

May looked at her in a way that made her puzzled because she couldn't read it. It seemed like it was doubt but there was something else in it. Before she could even ask if she's said something wrong May laughed again as she handed her a controller.

"So, you want to play the game with me?" she asked.

"Sure."

She joined the other girl on the couch once she turned the TV and game on. May told her that the game they were playing was a shooter game and she grinned. She's played shooter games before back at her old house when she had her own gaming system. She still has it but she left it for her sister in case the girl got bored.

"Since this is your first time," May started slyly, "I might go easy on you."

"You don't have to worry about that May," Ruby replied with a look of determination. "I'll be fine."

"Well don't say I didn't warn you."

May got her ass kicked.

All she could do was just sit there and stare, jaw dropped, at the TV screen as it showed the leader board. The two were just doing a small game of one on one with snipers(May suggested it). She didn't know that it would turn out like that, and she didn't know that the other girl was so good at shooter games, especially her favorite one.

"H-Ho-How…" she couldn't even form the words.

Ruby just smiled and told her, putting down the controller, "I played this game before at my old house."

She was still staring at the screen with the same shocked expression on her face.

"N-No one's ever beat me at my own game before," she mumbled and then looked at her.

The brunette couldn't help but laugh at the dumbfounded expression on the girl's face. Before she could try to encourage her, May grabbed her hands and cupped them in her own, face filled with determination.

"Marry me!" she commanded, her voice also filled with the same determination.

Ruby could feel heat rising to her cheeks as she was now the one with the dumbfounded expression on her face. She knew that other girl probably wasn't thinking, but she still found it embarrassing.

"U-Um M-May?" she called.

May didn't answer.

They stayed like that for about a minute until the other girl finally realized what was going on. She jerked back, releasing Ruby's hands, and blinked rapidly, realizing what she just did.

"Oh shit, my bad Ruby," she said nervously as she rubbed the back of her neck. "I was too caught up in the moment."

She scooted back a little to give the girl some space as she had her own look of embarrassment.

Clearing her throat, she asked, changing the subject, "Are you hungry? I could order us take-out."

Facing draining back to her normal color, Ruby nodded.

"What kind?" she asked.

"Mistralian(1)," May answered, taking out her cellphone and dialing the number. "It's really good if you haven't tried it already. But be warned, they're known for their spicy food."

She laughed, "Okay."

Ruby was over May's until 9. The food was as good as May told her and was also a bit spicy. She still loved it anyway. She also enjoyed hanging out with the other girl and hoped that it wouldn't just be a one time thing. May asked if she was okay heading home alone and offered to go with her, but Ruby told her that she was fine.

When she got home, Amber was watching TV in the living room, waiting for her.

"Hey Ruby," she greeted. "How was May's? That's her name right?"

The girl nodded and answered, "It was great. I had fun."

"I'm glad you had a great time." She got up from her seat.

Ruby looked around in the kitchen and noticed there wasn't any type of dishes out. "What did you eat?"

"Leftovers," the woman told her. Now that Ruby got a good look at her, she noticed Amber looked a little exhausted. "Well, I'm going to bed now. I was just waiting for you to get home and to see if everything went well."

"Okay good night."

"Good night, Ruby." She stopped. "Oh and you should invite that May girl over so I can meet her. And the other girl too."

"I will."

On the weekend, Ruby went shopping with Amber and then called up her father to touch base with him back at home.

"Yang's been taking good care of Zwei," he told her. "He's been distracting her from drinking."

"That's good."

Zwei was her dog that her dad got her three years ago so Ruby didn't feel lonely. He had asked her if she wanted to take him with her and Amber, but she told him that she wanted him to keep both her dad and Yang company. It's been rough for both of them and they both need someone like Zwei to brighten their mood.

"So how are your friends doing?" he asked.

"They're great," she answered. "One of them, May, she invited me to her place and we played video games and ate Mistralian food. I had a really great time."

"Oh, she doesn't live in a dorm either?"

"Nope. She lives alone in her own apartment."

"Oh wow. That's an interesting friend you got." He let out a long breath. "How's school by the way?"

"It's good. Pretty easy so far."

She didn't include the bad bits like, how two girls tried to steal her bike, how there was a huge fight at the school last year, or how they basically had a criminal in the school. If she did, he'd most likely take her out the school.

They talked for a little longer until they were both ready to hang up.

Later on, May and Reese invited her out to pizza. The place was out in the city, and Amber was a little concerned on her riding her bike there. She offered to drive her over there, but Ruby said that they were going to walk around the outlets after that.

The restaurant they were at was "Vale's Pizza Palace." A lot of the students from both the girl's and boy's school went there. Ruby saw a lot of familiar faces plus some people she didn't know. When she arrived at the place, she caught sight of May waving at her in a booth.

"Ruby!" she shouted as the girl came over. "Glad you could make it."

Ruby took a seat across from her and asked, looking at the small menu on the table, "Where's Reese?"

On cue, the said girl came in, laughing aloud with two guys following behind her. They looked around the same age as the girl. Ruby wondered if one of them was the guy that Reese was hanging out with one night.

She gave them both a fist bump before making her way to where the girls were. The guys went somewhere else in the restaurant. Most likely to go find their friends.

Reese took a seat next to Ruby before saying, "Sorry I'm late guys."

"Nah, it's cool," said May. "You came in a minute after Ruby."

"Why is this place so popular?" asked Ruby, as she spotted the Malachite twins talking to some older man at the bar area.

"Who knows?" Reese answered her. "Everyone just likes to come here and hang out. There's like barely any adults here too. They only come during the day. That's why the bar seems so empty." She looked over and also noticed the twins there. She looked at them in disgust. "Can't those two get a hobby instead of flirting with that poor, old man? He obviously knows his boundaries."

"They're not flirting with him," May grunted in annoyance, now looking at them too. "They're probably trying to steal something from him."

Reese snickered, "Yea…something."

She scrunched up her nose and looked back at the girl in disdain.

"You're disgusting!"

Reese started laughing and at first Ruby didn't get what she meant until she connected the dots. Her face flushed a deep red before swatting the girl's arm.

"Eww Reese~" she cried, pushing her arm now. "You're so gross! How can you say that?"

"I was just kidding guys," she told them, still laughing. "It's a joke."

Ruby had calmed down, but May just rolled her eyes and shook her head, clearly still annoyed by the girl.

"Who is that guy anyway?" the brunette asked.

Before Reese could answer, May spoke first so the girl wouldn't say anything else bad.

"That's Hei Xiong," she answered. "He's the owner of this place. Well, a lot of places actually. He's only here on weekends but works at a nightclub on weekdays. Everyone calls him Junior though. He's cool I guess."

"Oh." Ruby watched the man glance at her oddly.

It was actually pretty loud in the restaurant, but Junior didn't seem to mind at all, as long as there was soft music playing in the background. Mostly the guys were loud while the girls just talked in their regular voices. Ruby did hear Nora's loud voice in somewhere in the place though.

So did May.

"Looks like the Ginger Club is here," she groaned. "That means Katt is here too. Hopefully she doesn't see me."

"Weren't you two a thing?" Reese asked, resting her arm on the seat.

She hushed her. "Never talk about that!"

Ruby looked at May quizzically, but didn't ask anything in case there girl would get embarrassed. Then, suddenly, the two got dead silent as Reese stuck her head out from the booth and May turned.

Coming their way, looked like an older version of Weiss except more built in a few places. She had on beige khakis and a black polo with the "Pizza Palace" logo on it. She stopped at their table and took out a note pad and pen.

"Hey guys," she greeted, then looked at Ruby. "And I see you have a new member in you group."

She winced a little, staring at the same icy, blue eyes she saw on Weiss. Even if the woman was being nice, she still felt like she was talking to Weiss. She gulped.

Reese pointed her thumb at the girl and said, "That's Ruby. She's new to this area."

The woman smiled at the girl, making Ruby's scared feeling fade to something else. There was a weird feeling coming from her stomach and it was then she notice that the woman was absolutely stunning. No wonder why both May and Reese and probably a few others stopped what they were doing and stared.

"It's nice to meet you Ruby," she told her. "I'm Winter, Weiss' older sister, if you haven't known. I really hope you can handle these two idiots."

Ruby couldn't help but laugh, making the other girls whine at her.

"So what can I get you guys to drink?"

They all looked at the small menu that was set on the table for a second.

"I'll have a beer," said Reese, smirking up at the woman.

She wrote on her note pad, "Okay, root beer for you."

Reese sucked teeth.

"I'll have a Coke," May told her.

She nodded and wrote it down before turning to Ruby. Every time the woman would look at her she could feel her face heat up.

"I'll, uh, have a—" she looked at the menu again "—strawberry lemonade."

"Alright," said Winter as she wrote it down. "Will you guys be sharing a pizza?"

"Yea, half plain, half pepperoni," May told her.

"Okay. Everything should be out soon." She left into the back room.

Once she was gone May sighed, "If she wasn't so old, I wouldn't be so creeped out on hitting on her."

"Whoever she's with, they sure are lucky," said Reese.

They both just sat there in a daze.

"Who is she?" Ruby asked.

"Winter is Weiss' older sister and better looking sister," May answered.

"Rude…" Reese muttered but the girl ignored her.

"She's actually a very powerful woman but decides to work here in her spare time," she continued. "She also went to Beacon like three years ago, I think. She sings too, like Weiss. Sometimes, on Friday nights, she performs here. She's really an amazing person."

"Here that is," added Reese. "She's a totally different person outside of here."

"Oh okay," said Ruby as she watched the woman walk back in with their drinks.

"Here you go." She placed their drinks on the table. "Your pizza is already getting made."

She then went to a different table to take their order. Reese watched her as she took a sip of her drink. Her nose scrunched up.

"Should've gave me the beer," she groaned.

May shook her head, "You're really unbelievable."

"You drink?" Ruby asked.

She shrugged before answering boredly, "Sometimes. When I'm in a drinking mood. Like today. May's my drinking buddy though."

When she smirked at her, May stuck her tongue out.

"I can handle my drinking unlike you." She smirked back when Reese rolled her eyes. "It's true."

Ruby exhaled. It wasn't like the whole idea of her friends drinking bothered her. She just couldn't help but think of Yang when May basically said that Reese couldn't handle her drinking. She squeezed her glass before taking a drink.

"Hey, you okay?" someone asked. It was May.

She flinched when a hand touched her shoulder. She looked up to find both Reese and May staring at her with concern. Blinking, the girl quickly nodded.

"Yea," she swallowed, "yea…I'm good."

Reese rubbed her back before asking, "Are you sure? If we said something wrong, you can tell us."

"I'm fine guys, really," she told them with a smile.

Reese placed her arm back on the chair and nodded. May looked at her a little suspiciously before dropping it. She pursued her lips and drank her soda.

Winter came back some time later with the pizza. She moved the small menu in the middle of the table over to place the pizza on it. All three girls looked at it with pure hunger. The pizza was hot and fresh, and the girls looked like they were about to tear it up.

"Anything else you girls need?" she asked.

"No," Reese and May answered simultaneously while Ruby shook her head.

"Enjoy." She winked before walking away.

"Goddamn that pizza was good!" Reese shouted, rubbing her stomach.

"Couldn't agree anymore" said May.

Ruby had just finished her pizza, but she agreed with Reese as well. When Winter came back with the bill, May and Reese did rock, paper, scissors to see who'd pay for it.

"Dammit," May cried when she pulled rock and Reese had paper.

"Better luck next time," she laughed before getting up. "I'll be back."

She walked over to the table her friends from earlier were at.

"Those are her skating buddies," May told Ruby. "The guy with the black hair is Bolin and the other guy, with the pink hair, is Nadir."

Ruby watched as the girl started laughing with the boys like when they first came in. Reese caught her staring and waved, telling her to come over. She looked at May, asking if it was okay.

"Go ahead," the girl said. "I have to do something anyway."

Smiling, Ruby got up and left the booth to go talk to Reese and her friends.

"Guys," Reese started, wrapping an arm around Ruby's shoulder, "I'd like you to meet Ruby. And Ruby, I'd like you to meet Bolin—" she pointed to the guy with tan skin "—and Nadir." She pointed to the guy with dark skin.

Bolin grinned at the brunette before smiling slyly at Reese.

"That's your girlfriend?" he asked. "She's cute."

Ruby's face flushed in embarrassment as she looked over at Reese, who was frowning at him.

"She's the new girl I told you guys about," she answered, rolling her eyes. "She's not my girlfriend."

The two boys cackled.

"I thought cute ones were your type," said Nadir.

She unwrapped her arm from the girl's shoulder and smacked him in the head, making him yelp.

"Okay, okay, I was kidding," he whined, rubbing the back of his head.

"Whatever…" There was a slight blush on Reese's face, but they barely noticed it.

"Anyway," came Bolin, "nice to meet you, Ruby. If Reese isn't dating you, just know that I'm available."

He winked causing Ruby to squeak and bury her face in her hands. Her face was practically burning.

"Bolin leave the girl alone," Reese grunted in annoyance. "Let's go Ruby."

She pulled the girl along, leaving the two sitting there with confused expressions.

"Why did she just catch an attitude like that?" Nadir asked only for Bolin to shrug at him.

"Who knows?"

When they got to the table, the bill was paid and a tip was left, but May was no where in sight.

"The hell did that girl go?" Reese asked, taking out her phone. "We're supposed to be walking around the outlets."

Just as she was about to dial the girl's number, she emerged from the bathroom, clothes a little disheveled and a visible blush on her face. She dust off her shirt and pants and fixed her beanie before approaching the two girls.

"Sorry," she said.

Reese just arched an eyebrow at her and sized her up.

"Okay…?" She didn't question the girl. "Well, let's get going."

Walking out the door, Ruby noticed the man, Junior was watching them, specifically her. She didn't know what for and didn't question it, but she did find it creepy.

When they got outside, Reese hopped on her skateboard and Ruby grabbed her bike.

"I'm the only one that doesn't have something to ride on," May whined.

"Don't worry, May," said Ruby. "I'm only carrying it."

She smiled at her and Reese just rolled her eyes.

"How was May's house by the way?" she asked, slowly riding down the sidewalk with the two walking at her side.

"It was fun," Ruby answered.

"She beat me at my own damn game," May mumbled.

"Wooow. That's a real shame May." She snickered. "I cannot believe it." She paused. "Nah, actually I can."

She busted out laughing.

"Keep laughing because you can't even beat me!" May snapped.

The two started arguing after that and it continued for the rest of the night.

When it was time to go, May waved the other two goodbye and took the bus back to her place. Ruby was about to leave as well, but noticed Reese was going her way as well.

"Nadir wants me to hang out with him," she told her as they rode down the street.

So that's whose house she came from, the brunette thought.

Reese pulled out a pack of gum and put a piece in her mouth. She raised it out to Ruby.

"Want one?" she asked.

"Thanks," said Ruby, taking a piece and putting it in her mouth.

She shoved her hands in her pocket and kicked off as the ride became silent. She wanted to say something to the girl, but she didn't know what to say. Ruby rode right next to her, a small smile on her face. She wondered if she was fine with this silence.

"Um, Ruby," she called, popping her gum.

The girl looked over, "Hm?"

"At the restaurant," she took a deep breath, "what happened back there? You were all tense."

Ruby's smile faded as she told her, "Nothing. I told you I was fine."

"I just wanted to make sure we didn't say anything wrong like last time," she murmured.

The brunette glanced over at her before staring straight ahead. She wanted to ask her what was so great about drinking that she can't just have one swig of alcohol or why she even drinks or even what she's like when she's drunk. Instead, she didn't say anything and pursed her lips.

"It's alright Reese," she finally said. "You guys didn't say anything wrong."

Reese looked at her one last time with a worried expression.

"Okay…"

When she arrived home, Amber was waiting for her like before. She told the woman that she had a good time and that she was very tired. The woman didn't question anything and just went to bed like her. Ruby took off her clothes and put on her pajamas and slipped in the bed.

Her phone vibrated on her dresser.

She grabbed the phone and saw that she got a text from Reese.

Reese: Goodnight

With a smile, she texted back:

Night :)

A few minutes ago

Reese was trying to fight the process on whether or not she should send a good night text to the girl. She felt like the girl wasn't in a good mood after the ride to her place. Ruby just said goodbye when she went home. That was it, and Reese just watched her go in the house before leaving.

It's just a damn text, she thought. That's all you need to do.

Sighing, she gave in and texted the girl "good night".

She instantly got a text back and it almost made her fly off her skateboard. Gulping, she opened up the text.

Ruby: Night :)

See, that wasn't so bad you fucking moron, she thought, smiling a bit.

She shoved her phone in her pocket, popped her gum, and skated the rest of the way to Nadir's.

(1) Since this story is still based in Remnant, cultures are based from the kingdoms in it.

Author's Note

Feel free to leave a review to let me know what you think or if you have any questions. Toodles!